Marking pen



March 13, 1934. 'H w E5TCH 1,951,057

MARKING PEN Filed Feb. 16, 1953 Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNITED l srxrEs PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

This invention relates to marking pens adapted for marking large numbers and letters on textile fabric, boxes, packages and other materials and being of the type having an ink reservoir and an outlet in the pen point that is normally closed by a projecting spring pressed ball that is held away from the outlet by the engagement of the .pen with the surface to be marked, so as to allow the ink to flow onto the surface.

In a pen of the present type gravity can not be relied upon to extrude the vink from the pen positively and an object of the present invention is the provision of an improved receptacle and pen point in combination with means for supplying a gas under pressure to feed the ink to the pen point, so that a very uniform marking can be applied with great speed to surfaces of different characteristics with inks having different flow characteristics.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a marking pen having an ink supply reservoir which feeds ink to the pen point under gas pressure, with means by which an operative,.while using the pen, can vary at will the rate of feed of ink to the pen point by regulating the gas pressure on the ink in the reservoir.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a marking pen having an ink reservoir and a chamber adapted to hold a renewable charge of compressed gas for feeding the ink in the reservoir to the pen point.-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the marking pen embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is'a sectional view taken longitudinally of the pen of Fig; 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the pressure regulating valve of Fig. 2.

The marking .penvembodying the present invention includes a rigid tubular member 10 that comprises the handle of the pen and can be made of aluminum, for lightness. Said member has a chamber or reservoir 12 that is extended longitudinally of the tube and constitutes the ink reservoir. The chamber is closedat the bottom and open at the 4top and is internally screw threaded thereat and receives an externally screw-threaded cap 14 which closes the open end and is removable for the purpose of replenishing 'the supply of marking material and for cleaning the reservoir 4Said cap has a gas-tight connection with the tube, for which purpose the screw threads can be tapered, like pipe threads, to prevent leakage thereat of the pressure gas in the reservoir. The lower end of the tube is (Cl. 1Z0-43) with a tapered passage 23 terminated in an out- 1 let 24 in its apex of the pen point. Said passages 23, 21 and 18 are in communication with each other and the outlet 24 thereof is normally closed by a closure, as a ball 26, which projects somewhat beyond the yapex of the pen cap. Said ball is normally held in said opening by a spring urged stem 28 the upper end of which is located loosely in and is guided by the passage 18 and the lower end of which has a head 30 which bears upon the ball. A helical spring the diameter of which is smaller than said head but larger, atleast at its upper end, than that of said passage 18 encircles said stem and bears against said head and also against the end of said neck 16. When the projecting ball is pressed against the surface to be marked the spring yields and permits the ball to be movedy out of the opening 24, thereby enabling the ink or marking fluid to be pressed out of the pen point and onto the surface, the ball and the apex 22 of the cap distributing the ink over the surface.

As has been explained heretofore, gravity can not be relied upon to extrude the ink positively and uniformly from the pen, and particularly inks of different characteristics of ow on surfaces of different natures and hence the pen embodying the present invention is provided with meansl by which a pressure gas, the action of which is controllable by the operative, is `used to force the ink to the outlet of the pen, it being usual in mills or other places where a large amount of marking is done to have available compressed air for numerous purposes. If no convenient air line is available, the pressure air can be supplied by a small portable blower driven by an electric motor. To this end the tube l2 is provided with an outstanding longitudinal rib 32 which is integral with the wall of the tube and has a longitudinal gas passage or pressing chamber 34 therein. Said passage is open at the top of the tube and has a nipple 36 for connection with a fiexible air hose screw-threaded therein, the nipple being capable of swivelling in said passage and of being locked in any angular adjustment by the check nut 38.

. operative.

thereof, above the normal level of ink in the reservoir is 4provided with a passage 40 that communicates with the air passage 34 and a valve disc 42 is adapted to overlie the outlet of said passage in the reservoir and thereby control the flow of airvinto the reservoir. Said valve 4disc is mounted on a valve stem 44 that is screw-threaded in a bushing 46, said bushing beingscreW-threaded into said rib 32. A knob 48 is fixed lto the outer end of said stem by which the valve can be opened and closed. When the valve is open pressure air in the passage 34 can flow into the reservoir to force the ink therein positively along the outlet thereof.

The pressure of air in the reservoir and hence the rate of flow of ink is under control of the The air passage 34 at the bottom of the tube where it is naturally graspedV by the hand of the operative is provided with an air relief valve comprising a bushing 50 screwithreaded into said rib and the body of the tube and extended across said passage and having a valve stem 52 screwthreaded therein.` Said stem has a knob 53 at its end by which the stem can be rotated for closing and opening the valve and the stem projects beyond the inner end of said bushing and has a laterally projectinglpin 54 at the inner end thereof which overlies and engages the end of the bushing to prevent ro` tating the stem beyond the open position thereof.

' Said bushing has a lateral passage 55 through a side Wall thereof which communicates at its outer end with the air duct 34 and said stem has a relief passage 56 longitudinally extended therein which has a lateral inlet that is arranged to be placed into and out of register with the passage 55 by proper rotation of the valve stem. Said relief passage 56 extends through the valve knob 53 and has its outlet in the middle of the outer face thereof. With this arrangement, when both valves are open, the pressure in the ink reservoir, and consequently the flow of ink can be governed by a finger of the operative over the outlet of the passage 56, closing the passage causing air pressure to be built up in the reservoir and forcing out more ink and opening the passage reducing the air pressure and reducing the flow of ink. With some practice the operative can regulate the flow of ink closely and while marking with the pen.

The pen substantially as 'thus described is ln practical use and operates more .successfully than any marking pen I have tried.

The air pressure supplied to the tube can be anything suitable forl themarking fluid and the surface marked, as for instance, from one half 'pound to fifteen pounds per square inch, according to the particular marking fluid used and the character of the surface marked on. I havel founda pressure range of from four to nine pounds per square inch satisfactory with one kind of ink for marking the range of fabrics on which I have used the pen, the' pressure depending upon the kind of cloth.

The pen as so far described is adapted lto be connected with a source of compressed gas while in use. It can, however, be arranged to receive and retain a charge of compressed gas so that it can be used without being connected to an air line; and the charge of compressed gas can be renewed when needed. For this purpose the nipple is provided with a spring pressed check A valve 58 so arranged that it allows 'air to flow into the passage or chamber 34 and the reser- The side Wall of the tubeat the upper endv voir but prevents its escape through the nipple. The valve can be of suitable construction and can be mounted on a stem 60 and/pressed yieldingly by a spring 62 upon a valve seat 64 which is. held in position by an apertured plug 66 screw-threaded into the air passage of the nipple. With this arrangement, the nipple can be placed temporarily in communication with a source of pressure gas and gas will iiow into the-passage 34, with the regulating valve closed, and into the ink reservoir above the ink to build up a pressure therein, and the pressure will be retained by the valve 58, when the nipple is disconnected from the source of pressure gas. The passage or chamber 34 and the space above the ink in the ink reservoir thus constitutes a gas storage chamber. The pen can then be used in the usual manner and the charge of ,gas can be renewed when needed. It is preferred, however, to have the pen connected with the source of pressure gas for marking a large number of articles at great speed. It is not necessary to remove the valve 58 when it is desired to maintain the'pen connected with the source of'pressure gas for use but, if desired, the valve plug 66-can be backed off sufhciently to prevent the spring 62 from closing the valve, so that'there will be a constantly open `passage through the nipple. y

I claim:

1. A marking pen comprising a rigid tubular member constituting the handle of the pen and having an internal ink reservoir, a pen point at the end of the handle, a passage leading from the reservoir to the pen point, and a springpressedv projecting closure normally closing, the outlet of said passage, means to supply said reservoir with a compressed gas for forcing the ink out of. said reservoir and along said passage, and means for by-passing regulated amounts of compressed gas `from said reservoir to the atmosphere to control the gas pressure in and the flow of ink from said reservoir.

2. A marking pen comprising a handle having an ink reservoir and a pen point, means to supply said reservoir with a compressed gas for forcing the ink in said reservoir to said pen point. and means for by-passing regulated amounts of compressed gas from said reservoir to the atmosphere to control the gas pressure in and the flow of ink from said reservoir.

3. A marking pen comprising a tubular member having a pen point at one end and an ink reservoir, a projecting spring-pressed member normally closing the. outlet of said pen point,

said reservoir for supplying a compressed gas thereto, and means for divertinggas in said duct away from said reservoir for'controlling the gas pressure therein,

5. A marking pen comprising a tubular member having a pen point at one end and an ink reservoir, a projecting spring-pressed member normally closing the outlet of said pen point,

and meansr including a duct in communication with said reservoir for supplying a compressed gas thereto, said duct having a vent passage ncommunicating with the atmosphere which reduces the pressure of gas in said duct.

6. A marking pen comprising a tubular member having a pen point at one end and an ink reservoir, a projecting spring-pressed member normally closing the outlet of said pen point, means including a duct in communication with said reservoir for supplying a cmpressed gas thereto, said duct having a vent passage communicating with the atmosphere which reduces the pressure of gas in said duct, and a valve controlling the iiow of gas through said vent passage.

7. A marking penl comprising a tubular member having a pen point at one end and an -ink reservoir, a projecting spring-pressed member normally closing the outlet yof said pen point, and means including a duct in communication with said reservoir for supplying a compressed gas thereto, said duct having a vent passage which when open reduces the pressure of gas in said duct, and said vent passage having an outlet arranged and disposed in position to be covered and uncovered by the finger of an operative for regulating the escape of gas and thereby regulating the gas pressure in said reservoir.

8. A marking pen comprising a tubular member having a pen point at one end and an ink reservoir, a projecting spring-pressed member normally closing the outlet of said pen point, means including a duct in communication with said reservoir forV supplying a compressed gas thereto, a valve in the outlet of said duct tosaid reservoir, said duct having a pressure relief passage which reduces the gas pressure in said duct, and a valve .controlling the escape of gas through said relief passage.

9. A marking pen comprising a rigid tubular' member constituting the handle of the pen and having an internal ink reservoir, a pen point at the end of said tubular member, a projecting spring-pressed member in and normally closing the outlet of said pen point, means providing a duct which is extended longitudinally of said tubular member and is terminated vadjacent to said pen point and has a connecting device for connecting it with a source of compressed gas, means including a passage between said duct and reservoir for establishing communication therebetween, and means providing a vent passage for said duct located adjacent said pen point in position Where a ringer of the operative can be positioned upon the outlet thereof.

10. A marking pen comprising a rigid tubular memberv constituting the handle of the pen and having an internal ink reservoir, a pen point at the end of said tubular member, a projecting spring-pressed member in and normally closing the outlet of said pen point, means providing a duct which is extended longitudinally of said tubular member and is terminated adjacent to saidpen vpoint and has a Aconnecting device for .connecting it with a source of compressed gas, means including a passage between said duct and reservoir for establishing communication therebetween, means providing a vent passage for said duct located adjacent said pen point in position` where a finger of the operative can be positioned upon the'outlet thereof, and a valve in said vent passage.

11. A marking pen comprising a rigid tubular member constituting the handle of the pen and having an internal ink reservoir, a pen point at the end of said tubular member, a projecting spring-pressed member in and normally closing the outlet of said pen point, means providing a duct which is extended longitudinally of said tubular member and is terminated adjacent to said pen point and has a connecting device for connecting it with a source of compressed gas, means including a passage between said duct .and reservoir for establishing communication therebetween, and means including a valve providing a relief passage for said duct, said valve having a valve stem provided at the external end thereof with the outlet of said relief passage. l

12. A marking pen comprising a rigid tubular member constituting the handle of the pen and having an internal ink reservoir, a pen point at the end of said tubular member, a projecting spring-pressed member located in and normally closing the outlet of said pen point, said tubular member having an external rib that extends longitudinally thereof and is" provided with a longitudinal duct, a connecting member in communication with said duct for connecting it with a source of gas pressure, a valve carried by said rib fon connecting said rib-duct With said reservoir, and a pressure regulating valve carried by the bottom part of said rib having a valve stem provided with a pressure relief passage the outlet of which is in thel external end of said valve stem.

13. A marking pen comprising a tubular member having a pen point, a projecting springpressed member located in and normally closing the outlet of said pen point, said tubular member constituting the handle of said pen point and containing an ink reservoir, means providing an air passage adapted for communication with the upper part of said reservoir, and a check valve in said passage preventing the escape of gas therethrough from said reservoir.

' HAROLD' W. LEITCH. 

